Your weekly physical activity bulletin

18 March 2025

We are working towards improving the health and wellbeing of the nation through sport, exercise and physical activity. For more information on our work visit our website or follow us on X @NCSEM_PAnews

New multi-million-pound research and innovation hub will transform the landscape of women’s sport

Loughborough University has officially launched its groundbreaking Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub – underpinning its commitment to accelerating growth and excellence in the women’s sport sector. 

The multi-million-pound Hub – launched in partnership with Vitality – will deliver cutting edge research and innovation by bringing together leading academics, industry partners, national governing bodies, and elite-level athletes to drive positive change at every level of the women’s sporting ecosystem.   

This includes development in areas such as the menstrual cycle and its physiological impact on sport performance, the design of pregnancy and postpartum sportswear, sports nutrition in elite female athletes, digital technologies and innovation in sports bras.   

Loughborough named ‘best university in the world for sports-related subjects’ for ninth year running

Loughborough has retained its position as the world's best university for sports-related subjects, securing the top spot in the QS global rankings for the ninth consecutive year.

Sports-related research has always been at the heart of Loughborough and is a key part of the University’s strategy. The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Sports Technology Institute and Institute for Sport Business are all renowned for the fundamental and applied research they undertake in this field.

This marks the ninth year in a row that Loughborough has secured the best in the world title, being the recipient ever since it was launched by QS in 2017.

SHIFT programme shortlisted for NIHR impact prize

The SHIFT programme at Loughborough University and Leicester Diabetes Centre has been shortlisted for a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Impact Prize.

Through the Impact Prizes, NIHR is celebrating researchers and teams who have had a major impact on the health and wealth of the nation, as well as globally.

The SHIFT programme investigated whether HGV drivers’ health behaviours could be improved using a specially designed programme which includes health education sessions, Fitbits, and lorry cabin workouts. The research revealed the programme led to a potentially clinically meaningful difference in activity and reductions in sitting, and was most effective in drivers with obesity. The training module is now embedded within the mandatory driver training of an industry partner, benefitting their workforce of more than 8,000 HGV drivers.

The weekly physical activity bulletin in a summary of news stories that appear across the physical activity sector. The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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